Torpedo-launching tube.



E. SCHNEIDER. TORPEDO LAUNCHING TUBE.v

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 15, 1911.

1,024,424, 4 Patented 11111.23, 1912. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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E. SCHNEIDER.

' TORPEDO LAUNGHING TUBE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 15, 1911.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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COLUMBIA PLANUGRAPH co.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

E. SCHNEIDER. TORPEDO LAUNGHING TUBE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1911.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. SCHNEIDER.

TORPEDO LAUNGHING TUBE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 15, 1911.

Patented A111123, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4. 1727.6,

COLUMBIA PLANouRAPH C0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

E. SCHNEIDER.

ToRPBDo lLAUMEHNG TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 15, 1911.

Patented Apr'. 23, 1912.4

E! il 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

. o o o o a Z1 o 0 o o o (1- o D o EUGNE SCHNEIDER, or LE cREUzoT,FRANCE.

TORPEDO-LAUNCHING TUBE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

Application filed May 15, 1911. Serial No. 627,160.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EUGNE SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the Republic ofFrance, residing at Le Greuzot, Sane-et-Loire, France, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in or Relating to Torpedo-LaunchingTubes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to torpedo launching tubes.

Heretofore the launching of torpedoes has been eected by giving to thetorpedo launching tubes a suitable direction relatively to the torpedoboat on which they are carried and by maintaining the boat in a givendirection during the operation. The maintaining of the direction ofthetubes relatively to the torpedo boat and to the target aimed atnecessitates two operators, one of whom operates the sighting mechanismand follows the moving mark, while the other operates the tubes; if longand dangerous maneuvers are to be avoided it also entails keeping thetorpedo boat in a constant direction until the moment of launching anddoes not permit of the rapid alteration of the liring data. The supportfor torpedo launching tubes which forms the subject of the presentinvention obviates these defects.

With this object it comprises a carriage proper movable about its axisand upon the platform of which torpedo launching tubes are fixed. Thiscarriage is characterized by the fact that a periscopic sightingapparatus is mounted thereon parallel with the axis of rotation of thecarriage and that it likewise carries in or on a sleeve projectingbeneath the platform a portion of the element-s of the trainingmechanism; one of the supplementary parts of this mechanism is carriedby a fixed circular saddle upon which the carriage is able to run upon acircle of rollers that are interposed. The whole thus constitutes asupport similar to a gun carriage with central pivot with eyepiece andmeans for operating the sighting and training mechanism, the wholeprojecting beneath the platform thereby enabling one and the sameoperator who is constantly sheltered to modify at any moment thedirection of the tubes for reaching a movable target and this whateverthe changes of direction of the torpedo boat may be.

In order that the said invention may be more clearly understood andreadily carried into eect I will describe the same more fully withreference to the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1 and 2 are twosectional elevai tions on two planes at right angles passing through theaxis of the support, showing one constructional form of the inventionarranged for a single torpedo launching tube.

Fig. 3 is a partial plan corresponding to Figv 1. Fig. 4 is a crosssection on the line AA 1n Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan on thelines B B, C C in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a general longitudinal sectionalelevation of another constructional form ofthe invention adapted fortwin torpedo launching tubes. Fig. 7 1s a corresponding cross sectionalelevation. Fig 8 1s a partial sectional plan on the line i- A 1n Fig. 7.Fig. 9 is a partial elevation corresponding to Fig. 7 and showing infrontelevation the eyepiece of the periscopic apparatus.

' Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 1-5, the to-rpedolaunching tube a of any known type is attached to the plat- Yform of thecarriage proper and projectmg from the lower face of said platform aretwo vertical cylindrical and concentric members b Z2?. The member Z2 oflarger diameter carries at its lower end t-he track b3 upon which thecarriage rests on a ring of conical rollers c. Radiating ribs b4 connectthe cylindrical members b b2 the plate b and the track b3. The member bcarries two arms 57, the upper face of which is flush with the platformand upon which the tube a is fixed for example by bolting it by means oflugs Z on the assembling flanges a. By the intermediary of the ring ofrollers the carriage proper rests upon a saddle e fixed to the deck andin a vertical cylindrical part e in which it is centered by a collar orprojection?)5 cast with the track b3, a friction ring f of bronze beingfixed to the said collar b5. The lubrication of this ring is providedfor by means of a tube g (Fig. 2) opening to the exterior. A secondcrown be carried by the outer cylindrical member Z9 at its lower edgeforms a hook for retaining the carriage proper upon the saddle and atthe same time protects all the inner parts from bursting shells and thepenetration of sea-water. The carriage proper b carries a certain numberof the elements of the training mechanism for the torpedo launching tubea supplementary element of this mechanism being fixed upon the saddleand constituted in crown 72,. The latter meshes with an intermediatewheel z' (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) rotating freely upon a shaft y' carried bythe carriage. The wheel 11 meshes' with a pinion 7c carried by avertical shaft m upon which a worm wheel g is keyed. The shaft m isjournaled in bearings n and 0 carried respectively by the innercylindrical memberA b2 of the carriage and by the lower extremity of ametal sleeve fixed beneath this cylindrical member. The said sleeveitself carries a box p forming a supporting bearing for a screw 1'meshing with the wheel g and adapted to be operated by a hand wheel sprovided with a handle s. By rotating the latter the wheel i is causedto run upon the toothed ring L by the intermediary of the transmission gm and the carriage proper and the tube a carried by it participate inthis movement. -In vthe carriage there is likewise mounted a periscopicand panoramic sighting apparatus t .of known construction, the device tof which receives the luminous rays and may be operated by means of ahand wheel t2 within reach of the marksman. It will of course beunderstood that the carriage may be provided with various otheraccessories and in particular means for actuating the firing mechanismmounted on the breech of the tube a. p

In the construction shown in Figs. 6-9 the carriage proper carries onlyone of the elements of the training mechanism of the tubes a, that is tosay the toothed ring h. The saddle e forms a bearing for the upper endof a shaft m upon which a pinion 7c directly in mesh with the ring v, iskeyed. The lower end of the shaft m carries a worm wheel g and turns ina box p ixed to the boat and which forms supporting bearings for a screw7 meshing with the said worm wheel. It will readily be understood thatby operating the handle s'keyed upon the screw 1', the toothed ring Land consequently the carriage proper are caused to rotate by theintermediary of the transmission g m, 7c. The sighting apparatus t whichas in the preceding example is a panoramic periscope is arranged in theaxis of the support between the two tubes a which protects it againstexternal influences. At its lower part in proximity to the eyepiece t3the apparatus comprises a graduated conical drum u moving simultaneouslywith the carriage in a fixed casing o carrying an index fw.

The form of support described obviates the defects enumerated above andalso the crowding of the decks with the circular track heretoforeemployed. Even in the caseof twin tubes the carriage does not exceed thewidth of the combined tubes.

-The marksman can always keep his eye fixed vupon the objective whilethev commanderv ofthe torpedo boat can modify his direction in order tofollow the best course. In particular the marksman can rapidly modifythe training in accordance with fresh ring data (change of speed ordirection of the objective) and arrange the torpedo launching tubes inthe proper direction.

on said-carriage and means for operating said device below said platformwhereby the sighting of the object and aiming of the torpedo tube ismade independent of the direction of the vessels course.

2. In combination, a revoluble torpedo carriage adapted to be mounted ondeck of a vessel comprising a platform adapted to support a torpedolaunching tube and a sleeve depending from said platform and providedwith training mechanism, a circular saddle for revolubly supporting saidplatform and havinga fixed rack engaging said training mechanism and aperiscopic sighting device mounted on said carriage and having means foroperating the same sheltered below said platform all arranged wherebythe sighting of the object and aiming of the torpedo tube is independento-f the direction of the vessels course.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER.

Witnesses H. C. CoxE,

It. DE SERELINGER.

Y Copies of this patent may be obtained for Vfive cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents` Washington, 4I). C.

